Feeder-cable holder for electric-railway systems.



No. 681,604. Patented Aug. 27, I901.

W. D. YOUNG.

FEEDER CABLE HOLDER FOB ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEMS.

(Application filed Feb. 1, 1901.) (No Model.)

WITNESSES INVENTOI? I E E mzzernYowy QM Q all;

\VALTER D. YOUNG, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FEEDER-CABLE HOLDER FUR ELECTRIC RMLWAY SYSTEMS.

SPEGIFIJATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,604, dated August 27, 1901.

Application tiled February 1, 1901. Serial No. 15,609. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER D. YOUNG, residing at Baltimore city, State of IlIaryland, have invented a new and Improved Feeder- Cable Holder for Electric-Railway Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention seeks to provide a very simple and inexpensive bracketcasting especially designed for supporting the feeder or conductor cable for surface-contact third-rail systems and carrying it alongside of the rail at either side.

My invention in its generic character comprehends a two-part casting, each half of which is arranged to be slipped over the baseflange of the rail, and each has a pendent member relatively so arranged that when the two sections are fitted upon the rail-base flanges the complete bracket or casting'can be conveniently and securely made fast by the use of a single clamp-bolt and nut.

My invention also consists in certain details of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fully explained, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates my invention as applied for use. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the rail, taken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the sectional clamp or bracket member being set up in an operative position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the clamp-sections, and Fig. 4; is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of a rail and several of the cableholding members arranged in a practical cooperative position.

In its practical construction'my feeder-wire holder or clamp consists of two sections, each of which is constructed alike of malleable iron and arranged to act as opposing members having special configuration to permit of coacting with each other in such manner as to admit of a single bolt securing the two members properly upon the rail adjacent which it is desired to convey the feeder-cable. Each section (indicated byAA) is in the nature of an angle-iron of rectangular shape in front elevation and consists of a horizontal or base member 1, the inner end of which merges with a right-angle pendent member 2, provided with a bolt-aperture 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The outer end of the memher 1 terminates in an upwardly and inwardly bent loop 3 to form a socket 3, having approximately the height of the edge of the base of the rail, and the said socket flares upwardly, as at 3", and ends with the verticallyextending or guard member 4, the upper end 4t of which is curved outwardly to facilitate slipping the cable over said end and between the member l and the rail-web. To strengthen the clamp members, each has vertically-extending ribs 4 From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,it is thought the advantages of my invention and the manner of its use will be readily apparent.

In fitting up the feeder-cable the two clampsections are held on the rail to oppose each other, as shown in Fig. 4. To insert the cables, said sections are separated from the rail sufficiently to permit the cables being passed over the upper ends of the sections and, to pass down over the flanges of the base to lodge in the sockets 3 adjacent the outer edge of the said flanges, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The two members are then drawn toward each other by tightening the single bolt 5 until their flared parts 3 tightly grip on the upper faces of the rail-base flanges. Thus the cable will be securely held adjacent the rail and from accidental displacement.

I prefer to use two clamping members for each holder, as it provides for supporting the feeder-cable at one side of the rail and the return cable at the other side and for securing the entire clamp device by a single bolt. I desire it understood, however, that but a single cable-holding section may be used on the plan shown and hereinbefore described, and other means employed for tightly holding said member on the rail-base under the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A cable-holder clamping member, consisting of a base-piece, having a depending portion at one end, and a loop at the other end, said loop terminating at its inner end in a vertical guard member, so located as to leave a space between it and the rail-web.

2. A cable-holder clamping member, con

sisting of a base-piece, having a depending portion at one end and a loop at one end, arranged to form a socket between the loop and the base-piece, the lower wall of the socket being straight and horizontal, and the upper Wall thereof being straight for a portion of its length, and upwardly inclined for the remainder of its length, and said loop terminating in avertioal guard.

3. The combination of a rail, and a pair of cable-holders, each consisting of a base-piece having depending portions at its inner end, and a loop at the outer end on the upper side thereof, the base-pieces being adapted to fit against the under sides of the rail and the loops being adapted to engage the upper faces of the base at opposite sides of the Web of the rail, said loops forming sockets, and the end Walls of the sockets being separated from the opposite edges of the rail-base to receive cables, and the upper walls of the sockets having angular faces to abut the rail-base, and said loops terminating in vertical guards remotely separated from the opposite faces of said Web.

4. As a new article, a clamp-casting, comprising a vertical bottom member, having a bolt-aperture, a horizontal portion, terminating at the outer end ina flange, and cablereceiving socket, and a vertical extension, the upper end of which flares outward, for the purposes described.

WALTER D. YOUNG. Witnesses:

FRED G. DIETERIOI-I, H. B. ATHEY. 

